How the Rays Made the 2026 World Series

Back in December 2018, part of a massive three-way trade between the Mariners. Rays, and then-Indians that most notably saw Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana trade places, it also saw Jake Bauers (now with the Brewers) and Yandy Diaz find new homes.

Bauers went from Tampa Bay to Cleveland, while Diaz, who never found a footing in Cleveland, was sent to the Rays. Diaz had a penchant for making quality contact, and that trait and ability to put the ball in play turned him into a star in Tampa Bay. So far in October, his Barrel% of 19% through the Championship Series was best in the Majors.

Right behind him was Junior Caminero. Caminero, just before the last lockout in 2021, was a teenager in rookie ball with the Guardians. He was flipped to Tampa Bay for Tobias Myers, then a pitching prospect who was knocking on the MLB door.

It took Myers some time to ultimately crack through the door, although he didn’t do so with the Guardians. As for Caminero, he exploded in 2022 and 2023, ultimately making his MLB debut at the end of ’23.

The rest is history.

Savvy development & moves

Diaz is also a representation of something more important in Tampa Bay: stability. While the Rays have, for the most part this decade, been a steady performer, the reality is that their success can largely be tied to when to move off particular players.

The reality is that very few of the players from the Rays’ AL-pennant winner from 2020 are gone. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Charlie Morton, Mike Zunino, Kevin Kiermaier, Willy Adames, Randy Arozarena, and Brandon Lowe were all notable figures on that club. Aside from Diaz, the only player from that 2020 club still in St. Pete is the injured Shane McClanahan.

But the transition from 2020 to 2026 started soon after the loss in Arlington to the Dodgers. Willy Adames was traded to Milwaukee in 2021, as the club had Taylor Walls and Wander Franco in the waiting. The return? Drew Rasmussen.

Glasnow helped the club bring in Jonny DeLuca, who played a big role in the postseason. DeLuca was part of an outfield that included free agent signing Cedric Mullins, plus Victor Mesa Jr. from the Marlins. Mesa Jr. cost the club teenage infielder Angel Brachi, who finished 2026 in Low-A.

Arozarena netted the Rays pitcher Brody Hopkins and outfield prospect Aidan Smith. Smith was used to acquire pitcher and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta. Peralta was part of a strong deadline for the Rays, as the club shored up the catching position with Liam Hicks.

Who did Hicks catch in the ninth inning of Game 6? Bryan Baker, who cost the Rays a first-round competitive balance pick in 2026. Baker was sharp for the Orioles last season, and he took over the closer role after the club didn’t retain Pete Fairbanks. That move worked out very well.

Oh, and don’t forget Richie Palacios, who cost the Rays a good reliever in Andrew Kittredge back in 2024. But it was worth it.

Then, there’s the development portion. Over the past decade, Taylor Walls, Jonathan Aranda, Ian Seymour, and Chandler Simpson were all either drafted or signed as an international free agent.

Much like the Brewers, Tampa Bay did it by checking all the boxes. Making the right moves and fostering players from prospects into contributors.

Rolling through the regular season

Tampa Bay won the American League pennant at home, fitting given how well the club played at Tropicana Field this past season.

The Rays had a 55-26 record at home during the regular season. And in the playoffs, the Rays went 4-1 between the ALDS and ALCS.

While the Rays might have had some help along the way, a team needs to be good to take advantage of luck. Throughout the season, the Rays had the benefit of winning close games, coming back, and deploying a deep bullpen of different looks.

Bryan Baker, Kevin Kelly, Cam Booser, and Steven Matz all have different pitch mixes and angles. Why does that matter? Teams that win in October have a bullpen that can change things optically for opposing hitters.

Clutch work in October

The Rays didn’t win this series with the long ball or the loud contact. Yes, the home run ball did help secure the series. But overall, the Rays’ team Barrel% of 5.7% was the second-lowest in the playoffs. The only team with one lower was the Cubs (0.0%).

But again, coming through in key situations is something special and tough to teach. But between the big hits from Diaz, Caminero, and Palacios, plus stellar work from Kelly and Tyler Wells in the final two games of the ALCS, those are perfect illustrations of why the Rays are here.

Four games away from the franchise’s first World Series title.